SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC : supports the Solar Decathlon all over the world

09/24/2013 | 12:57pm US/Eastern

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Rueil-Malmaison (France), September 24, 2013 - Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management, demonstrates once again its full support to Solar Decathlon initiatives around the world by sponsoring this year the US and Chinese editions of this award-wining program.

Created by the U.S Department of Energy (DoE), the Solar Decathlon aims to challenge students from worldwide universities on 2 year long projects where they design, build and operate energy-efficient solar-powered houses. The houses are built over a ten day period in a solar village open to the public and compete in 10 contests. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency. The first Solar Decathlon was held in 2002 in the US. The competition has since occurred biennially in 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011 in this country. Spain hosted the first two Solar Decathlon Europe (2010 and 2012) and the competition has spread to Asia this year with the first Solar Decathlon China that took place in Datong last August.

"We face energy challenge everywhere in the world, in every country, in every city in every place" declared Aaron Davis, Chief Marketing Officer, Schneider Electric. "It's a great honor, and pleasure for Schneider electric to be sponsoring the Solar Decathlon initiatives, whereby we put together, we assemble real minds of all over the world to compete to design the most sustainable house. This is the goal of the future: we are going to be using all kinds of sustainable technology and energy design for a more sustainable, for a greener future."

Long standing sponsor of the Solar Decathlon, Schneider Electric's involvement in the challenge takes various forms, ranging from technical support and donations to participation by volunteers:

At a local level, as a sponsor of the competing teams, through home automation and power distribution products, solutions integration and trainings provided by Schneider Electric local entities. Numerous teams sponsored by Schneider Electric won the competition in the past editions;

At a global level, by supplying the Organizers with the technology and engineering services required to implement the micro-grid that interconnects the houses, the organization buildings and the Electrical Vehicle charging systems to the local utility. Schneider Electric also develops real-time energy dashboards that publicly showcase the houses' energy consumption and designs Smart grid demonstration centers on site to educate the public to the smart grid and to the smart home and buildings technology.

"The Solar Decathlon depends on the valuable support of our many sponsors" said Richard King, director of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. "The sponsorship provided by Schneider Electric helps ensure that the Solar Decathlon provides a rich learning experience for the student decathletes and educates the public about the money-saving opportunities and environmental benefits presented by clean-energy products and design solutions."

Every edition of the Solar Decathlon is open free-of-charge to the public and draw from 200,000 to 350,000 visitors.

From top to down: University of Wollongong, Australia (#1), South China University of Technology, China (#2), and Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden (#3) were all three sponsored by Schneider Electric at Solar Decathlon China 2013.

> Focus on the 2013 and 2014 editions of the Solar Decathlon

Solar Decathlon China 2013Datong (China) - August 2-11, 2013Schneider Electric was one the three global sponsors of the first Solar Decathlon China that took place last August. The Group also sponsored directly the top 3 winners of the competition: University of Wollongong, Australia (#1); South China University of Technology, China (#2); Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden (#3).

U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013Irvin (CA, United States) - October 3-13, 2013As a Sustaining Sponsor of the competition, Schneider Electric is supporting 10 of the 20 teams by supplying energy management products for use in the houses. Schneider Electric will also provide technology and engineering services required to implement the fully-functioning micro-grid solution.

Solar Decathlon Europe 2014Versailles (France) - June 27-14, 2014Long standing sponsor of the European competition, Schneider Electric will be present in Versailles for the 2014 edition.

About Schneider Electric
As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in Utilities & Infrastructure, Industries & Machines Manufacturers, Non-residential Building, Data Centres & Networks and in Residential. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the Group's 140,000 plus employees achieved sales of 24 billion euros in 2012, through an active commitment to help individuals and organizations make the most of their energy.www.schneider-electric.com